Western Electric Wow!!

[Pondoro]

TubeDepot is offering a Western Electric 91E amplifier for $14,999.00. I knew the Western Electric tubes were pricey. This takes "pricey" to a new level. I am curious, but not even dreaming about buying one. I'd pay $20 to sit and listen to one, in a room filled with nine other (quiet) people, for 30 minutes. It would have to be driving comparable speakers.

 

[mkane]

 

[AmadeusMozart]

It's all relative - what is the disposible income and what's your time worth?

 

[Pondoro]

It's all relative - what is the disposible income and what's your time worth?

You are correct, I have two ancient Magnavox tube amps. Though I can solder and have a technical degree I paid others to rebuild them. My investment in both is under $1,000, but there are people who would consider my collection a crazy expense, either because, "I should have fixed them myself!" or "Who needs that stupid stuff?".

 

[AmadeusMozart]

You are correct, I have two ancient Magnavox tube amps. Though I can solder and have a technical degree I paid others to rebuild them. My investment in both is under $1,000, but there are people who would consider my collection a crazy expense, either because, "I should have fixed them myself!" or "Who needs that stupid stuff?".

In the distant past I've bought equipment in that price range only to be sold at great loss (due to the market size here in New Zealand). I've also a long history in electronics and recently finished my last amplifier (health has detriorated and it is preventing me from doing almost anything) but I would not swap it for the WE or for the money that the WE costs. I'm sure the WE would not satisfy me, the specifications tell me as much. Similarly that solid state has never satisfied me. It might be what I wrote earlier in this thread, https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...w-tube-production.991490/page-4#post-15594943 .

(latest creation has been documented here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...-kegger-seul-el84.992346/page-4#post-15581049 - distortion in the bass region is increasing below 45 Hz, just in the right proportion, hardly any distortion in the midrange and yet just a tad of distortion in the bass making the bass sound louder than it is. This is why expensive Japanese OPT are worth the money but not all are the same, choose with great care)

Listening curves have a lot to do with this as well: what level does one listen at?

FWIW Others spend their money on smoking, drinking, expensive holidays, cruises, dining out, etc. This was my hobby until health put a screeching halt to it. At least I can still enjoy listening and be satisfied that at long last I'm happy with its performance. Took a long time (and a sizeable chunk of money. No regrets.)

 

[maxhifi]

TubeDepot is offering a Western Electric 91E amplifier for $14,999.00. I knew the Western Electric tubes were pricey. This takes "pricey" to a new level. I am curious, but not even dreaming about buying one. I'd pay $20 to sit and listen to one, in a room filled with nine other (quiet) people, for 30 minutes. It would have to be driving comparable speakers.

Believe it or not there's actually a lot of competition in this price range, and significantly higher. These are luxury products, plain and simple. This luxury market is where many of the most interesting pieces of gear are priced these days.

 

[AlexHempel]

Yeah, with the WE branding I’m almost surprised it’s not more. Hifi companies will price DACs at like $100k — it’s absurdity. My issue is more with the appearance. It’s WE branded and uses WE tubes but has none of the elegant industrial design of classic WE amplifiers. In fact, I’d say it’s pretty ugly.

 

[Superman541]

......Hifi companies will price DACs at like $100k .....

Those DACs must sound REALLY good.

 

[Pondoro]

Yeah, with the WE branding I’m almost surprised it’s not more. Hifi companies will price DACs at like $100k — it’s absurdity. My issue is more with the appearance. It’s WE branded and uses WE tubes but has none of the elegant industrial design of classic WE amplifiers. In fact, I’d say it’s pretty ugly.

1 - You are correct, for $15K I'd like it to look like a beautiful piece of 1930's industrial design. Or 21st century modern art. This is a weird mishmash of the two.
2 - I built a DAC as an assignment in a college engineering lab using an 8-bit Motorola chip, back when computer controls were predicted to be the next thing. I should have kept building them! I had no idea where they would go!